Parcells out of mix for Saints' interim coaching job

Bill Parcells has taken himself out of the running for the interim coaching job with the Saints. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram Photo)

Bill Parcells won't leave retirement in South Florida to save the New Orleans Saints.

Parcells has informed the Saints that he is not an option to fill in for suspended head coach Sean Payton in 2012, leaving the franchise to consider its best alternatives before Payton must break all contact with the team beginning April 16.

The Saints aren't without legitimate and experienced options on their current staff. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, hired to replace disgraced Gregg Williams at the end of the 2011 season, coached the Rams for three seasons before he was fired on Jan. 2. Joe Vitt previously served as interim coach of the Rams, but must begin the season serving his own six-game suspension. Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., who filled in for an injured Payton last season, have interviewed for other head coach positions and are also in the running.

According to multiple reports, the Saints also reached out to former Colts coach Tony Dungy, but he was not interested.

ESPN Senior NFL Insider Chris Mortensen reported that Vitt remained a likely candidate to become interim head coach, since he can run the preseason before serving his suspension.

Payton, Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis appealed their respective suspensions in light of the team's bounty scandal. The league announced Monday that all three of those suspensions were upheld.